Q&A for How to Paint a Fiberglass Canoe

Because spray paint is not designed to be used in water so the color will not hold up.

No. If you need a gelcoat, put it on prior to painting (and be sure to prep the canoe first).

Rustoleom spray paint works great and is strong against scratches, plus has great color choices.

You can leave the old paint on it, just make sure it's all sanded. The areas that are not sanded have a better chance of peeling off. Sandpaper is fine.

You can, but you will use a lot more paint than you actually need because of overspray.

As long as it is alkyd (oil-based) and done after proper preparation of the surface - then yes. There are specific marine paints (like Interlux Brightside enamel) that are great for this work, but they are quite expensive. As said already - the most important part is the work put into sanding and surface prep.

Any home improvement center or paint supply shop will have a large supply of colors in different brands, including Rustoleum.

You can dip a sponge in paints of different colors and sponge it on randomly to the hull to create a camo effect.